| 83 nzdairy The team has redesigned the farm layout, which included re-fencing, new laneways and a new stock water system. There’s been further land acquisitions, ownership restructures, and sustained investment since. “When they started, I think it was about 200 hectares irrigated, now it’s 1,600,” he says. Richie’s been back on the farm for four years – spending about half that time managing one of the dairy units before moving into the top operations role. “I’m managing about 15 fulltime staff, and then I’m overseeing our contract milkers (a couple who milk two of the units), who employ a further 13,” he says. The business works hard to be an employer of choice – offering competitive salaries, staff lunches, a five-two roster, learning opportunities, and upgraded on-farm accommodation. Richie describes the dairy operation as “ self-contained”. “We grow and raise our young stock within the property, and that negates a lot of external risks,” he says. One factor harder to control – but vital to the farm’s operation – is water supply. “We get really dry in the summer, so we’re very reliant on access to irrigation,” Richie says. When water restrictions kick in for the Rakaia River, the farm switches to a stored supply via Lake Coleridge. “The season just been, the rivers were really low for the majority of the summer,” he says. • from page 81 www.tambo.co.nz 027 5774 217 info@tambo.co.nz Tambo is proud to support Rakaia Island Engineering Services Farm Implement Repairs | On-site Repairs & Maintenance On-call Emergency Breakdown Servicing | Dairy Shed Platform Maintenance New Dairy Shed Yards & Alterations Call Now 027 452 6657 www.barnhillengineering.co.nz DAIRY PEOPLE » Rakaia Island ĔĖě ĖĘĘ ěĕĕĕ Ǚ õõõƣ©Å¤¬Å٬ŤƣËƣÅĀ ©ƸŤǐúäÙƣËƣÅĀ Ǚ ĕĔĝ A¬Å VË S¾ÝÅä SˬÅä éÝäËÄ Å¤¬Å٬Ť Z˾éä¬ËÅÝƤ ¬Ùû Ǒ #ÙÄ A¬ÅäÅÅƤ )û Ǒ Z¬¾¤ #ÙÝƤ éÝäËÄ aÙ¬¾ÙÝƤ VÖ¬ÙÝ Ǒ AËÙ While Lake Coleridge is a reliable alternative, it adds another cost to the business. The farm has a strong environmental focus. Since 2008, it has planted more than 10,000 native trees and 4,000 other native plants as part of a restoration project launched in partnership with Southbridge School.
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